The White House announced Thursday morning that President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 people and granted pardons to 39 people. It is considered the largest single-day act of amnesty in modern American history. According to announcementthe president commuted the sentences of prisoners who have been placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and have “successfully reintegrated into their families and communities.”
Meanwhile, 39 pardoned people were convicted of non-violent crimes.
“The President has handed down more commutations at this point in his term than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms,” White House officials said in a statement.
According to reports fox news, Biden has previously hinted that he would issue more pardons and pardons before leaving office.
“We will take further steps in the coming weeks. My administration will advance equal justice under the law, promote public safety, support rehabilitation and reentry, and provide meaningful second chances,” Biden said. We will continue to review the clemency petition in order to provide for this.”
Thursday's pardon comes more than a week after Biden previously said he would not pardon his son Hunter for his controversial decisions on gun and tax felonies. I was disappointed. Not only was the move criticized by public figures on both sides of the political spectrum, but it was also unpopular with the American public.
According to Wednesday's poll, Associated PressOnly 2 in 10 Americans approved the pardon.
Hunter was previously convicted in two federal cases earlier this year, including pleading guilty to federal tax charges in September and pleading guilty to three felony firearms charges in June. He has also been sentenced.
Biden defended the pardon, claiming Hunter was “singularly chosen just because he's my son” and calling out attempts by political opponents to “break Hunter down” in order to “break me down.” claimed that there was.
Asked whether the president and his agents lied to the American people, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, “One of the things the president believes is that , always be honest with the American people,” he said, echoing Biden's own statements on the issue. .
The judge in Hunter's case also criticized Biden for pardoning him and accusing investigators, prosecutors and himself of political bias.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Mandel Ngan/AFP
